Kenansville, Florida
Encyclopedia
Kenansville, Florida
, USA, is an unincorporated community with a population of just under 1000, a large number of which are over the age of 50, located at the junction of Osceola County Road 523 and U.S. Highway 441
in Osceola County, Florida
, just 12 miles north of Yeehaw Junction
and 27 miles south of St. Cloud. The community is named for Mary Lily Kenan Flagler (from Kenansville, North Carolina
), the wife of the prominent railroad entrepreneur Henry Morrison Flagler
. Flagler made a deal with the town of "Whittier". He would bring the railroad through the area to assist with their turpentine
operations, if they would move to a new location and change the name of the town to "Kenansville" after his new bride. Both parties carried out their end of the agreement.
Once a semi-successful place whose economic activity revolved around turpentine, now cattle ranching is the main economic stay of the area. Hundreds of thousands of acres of State of Florida wildlife preserve lands surround the Kenansville community. Wildlife and bird watchers, as well as fishermen and hunters drive into the community. The Florida Turnpike
passes through Kenansville but does not exit there. Children who live in or near the community are bussed to St. Cloud area schools, a 45-minute drive away.
Former PBR bull rider Tater Porter resides here and many Rodeo queens resided in the area, as well as Bruce Vickers, a well known rodeo clown
. Many descendants of original homesteaders continue to reside in Kenansville.
The "Heartbreak Hotel" is located in Kenansville. It has been said that Mae Paxton played a role in writing the song Heartbreak Hotel
, made famous by Elvis Presley
, after riding past this hotel on his way to south Florida. The hotel was renovated several years ago. The community did not have electricity until the mid-1950s.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA, is an unincorporated community with a population of just under 1000, a large number of which are over the age of 50, located at the junction of Osceola County Road 523 and U.S. Highway 441
U.S. Route 441 in Florida
U.S. Route 441 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from Miami in South Florida northwest to the Georgia border north of the Lake City area....
in Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
, just 12 miles north of Yeehaw Junction
Yeehaw Junction, Florida
Yeehaw Junction is a census-designated place in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 240...
and 27 miles south of St. Cloud. The community is named for Mary Lily Kenan Flagler (from Kenansville, North Carolina
Kenansville, North Carolina
Kenansville is a town in Duplin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Duplin County.-Geography:Kenansville is located at ....
), the wife of the prominent railroad entrepreneur Henry Morrison Flagler
Henry Morrison Flagler
Henry Morrison Flagler was an American tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and partner of John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil. He was a key figure in the development of the eastern coast of Florida along the Atlantic Ocean and was founder of what became the Florida East Coast Railway...
. Flagler made a deal with the town of "Whittier". He would bring the railroad through the area to assist with their turpentine
Turpentine
Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...
operations, if they would move to a new location and change the name of the town to "Kenansville" after his new bride. Both parties carried out their end of the agreement.
Once a semi-successful place whose economic activity revolved around turpentine, now cattle ranching is the main economic stay of the area. Hundreds of thousands of acres of State of Florida wildlife preserve lands surround the Kenansville community. Wildlife and bird watchers, as well as fishermen and hunters drive into the community. The Florida Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
passes through Kenansville but does not exit there. Children who live in or near the community are bussed to St. Cloud area schools, a 45-minute drive away.
Former PBR bull rider Tater Porter resides here and many Rodeo queens resided in the area, as well as Bruce Vickers, a well known rodeo clown
Rodeo clown
A rodeo clown, also known as a bullfighter or rodeo protection athlete, is a rodeo performer who works in bull riding competitions. The primary job of the rodeo clown is to protect a fallen rider from the bull, whether the rider has been bucked off or has jumped off of the animal...
. Many descendants of original homesteaders continue to reside in Kenansville.
The "Heartbreak Hotel" is located in Kenansville. It has been said that Mae Paxton played a role in writing the song Heartbreak Hotel
Heartbreak Hotel
"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboards Top 100 chart, became his first...
, made famous by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, after riding past this hotel on his way to south Florida. The hotel was renovated several years ago. The community did not have electricity until the mid-1950s.